Archived: Clearwater Care

Updated 5 August 2020

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by three inspectors.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats and specialist housing. The service also provided care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live as independently as possible.

People using the service lived in supported living houses. The facilities were shared, in mixed housing for groups of up to four people. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. Other people received personal care and support in their own homes.

Notice of inspection

We gave a period notice of the inspection because some of the people using it could not consent to a home visit from an inspector and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. The inspection activity started on 9 March 2020.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We also sought feedback from professionals. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We spoke with four relatives and three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with four members of staff, including the registered manager, and care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 5 August 2020

Clearwater care provides care and support to people in their own home. The service supports some people on a 24-hour basis and others who may require support with personal care needs at specific times during the day and/or night. The service was supporting five people with personal care at the time of our inspection.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service:

The way the service was managed needed to improve. Governance systems needed to ensure people received a consistently good service. Communication between the service and people's relatives needed to improve.

Staff knew how to prevent the spread of infection, but some relatives raised concerns about infection control and the cleanliness of some of the locations.

Staff told us the registered manager was approachable, and staff told us they knew them well. Spot checks and audits were completed to ensure the quality of the service was maintained. Staff were caring and compassionate. People spoke positively about the service and the support being provided.

People told us they were safe with the staff that supported them. Risk assessments covered all areas of risk and staff knew how to keep people safe from harm. Systems and processes were in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. There had been no recorded incidents of seclusion or restraint. Staff had received training in infection control and had access to personal protective equipment. People were supported to take their medicine in a safe way.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People told us they received effective care, from trained staff. Staff were trained in a range of topics, including positive behaviour support, autism and epilepsy. People told us they were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and that staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. Staff supported people to maintain a healthy diet, in line with their assessed needs and were supported to access health care if this was needed.

Staff were kind and caring and had developed positive relationships with people. Staff understood the importance of respecting people’s privacy dignity and independence.

Assessments and support plans were in place identifying what was important to people and how people needed to be supported. The support people received was centred around them and they were involved in any decisions made. The provider had a complaint’s process which people were aware of to share any concerns. At the time of the inspection, no one was being supported at the end of their life.

Rating at last inspection: This service was rated Good (2 June 2017)

Why we inspected: This was a planned comprehensive inspection

Follow up: We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk